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SCB ICU Crisis: 3 Nurses, 40 Patients Exposed
11 Feb
Summary
- SCB Medical College Hospital's ICU operates with 3 nurses for 40 patients.
- Indian Public Health Standards mandate higher nurse-to-patient ratios.
- An unattended patient's fall triggered an investigation into severe understaffing.
An incident where an unattended patient allegedly fell from a bed at SCB Medical College and Hospital's medicine ICU has brought severe understaffing issues to light. The 40-bed ICU is reportedly functioning with only three nurses per shift, a significant deviation from Indian Public Health Standards. These standards mandate one nurse per ventilator patient and one for every two non-ventilator patients.
Following a video of the Sunday incident that went viral, health authorities ordered a probe on Tuesday. This has led to the withdrawal of the medicine ICU's in-charge professor and the transfer of three nursing officers. Attendants expressed deep concern over the inability of just three nurses to monitor numerous critical patients.
SCB superintendent Dr. Gautam Satpathy acknowledged the staff crunch, stating that higher authorities have been informed. He assured that more staff would be allocated once new posts are sanctioned. A six-member committee has been formed to investigate the events and assign responsibility. The hospital, a major tertiary care facility, faces high patient loads, prompting a review of manpower deployment to prevent future incidents.
